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High school football: 15 defensive playmakers and game-changers from Central Indiana

kyle neddenriep, indianapolis star
·4 min read

Five weeks from Friday night officially marks the start of the high school football season. We continue our march to Week 1 this week with a look at 15 defensive playmakers who might be flying under the radar in Central Indiana:

Artemas Bryant, Carmel: The 6-2, 230-pound senior defensive end made 35 solo tackles (45 total) last year on Carmel’s veteran defense. Bryant had nine tackles for a loss and four sacks. His quickness and athleticism led to offers from Air Force, Army and Miami of Ohio.

MJ Campbell, Decatur Central: The 6-1, 240-pound Campbell committed to Louisville as a preferred walk-on earlier this month. The defensive end made 67 tackles as a junior, including 14 for a loss, and 12½ sacks. Campbell also caused a fumble and recovered a fumble.

Mooresville High School senior Nicholas Patterson (9) fends off the tackle of Decatur Central High School junior MJ Campbell (5) during the first half of an IHSAA varsity football game, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at Decatur Central High School.
Mooresville High School senior Nicholas Patterson (9) fends off the tackle of Decatur Central High School junior MJ Campbell (5) during the first half of an IHSAA varsity football game, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at Decatur Central High School.

Elijah Chandler, Center Grove: The 6-2, 245-pound defensive end took advantage of his opportunity as a junior for the Class 6A state champions, making 67 tackles, including nine for a loss, and 5½ sacks. Chandler looks poised for a big senior season.

Center Grove Trojans Elijah Chandler (93) celebrates with Center Grove Trojans cornerback Parker Doyle (17) on Friday, Nov 18, 2022 at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. Center Grove Trojans defeated the Cathedral Fighting Irish, 33-10, for the semistate championship.
Center Grove Trojans Elijah Chandler (93) celebrates with Center Grove Trojans cornerback Parker Doyle (17) on Friday, Nov 18, 2022 at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. Center Grove Trojans defeated the Cathedral Fighting Irish, 33-10, for the semistate championship.

Landon Drennan, Plainfield: The 6-3, 215-pound senior outside linebacker, an Air Force recruit, has been a playmaker since his freshman year for the Quakers. As a junior, Drennan had 91 tackles, including 10½ for loss, six sacks and four fumble recoveries. In three seasons, Drennan has totaled 183 tackles, including 20½ for a loss, with 11 sacks, eight fumble recoveries and five caused fumbles.

Sam Feeney, Bishop Chatard: The 6-2, 205-pound senior outside linebacker is one of the leaders for the Class 3A defending state champions last season. Feeney, also a standout sprinter, finished last season with 83 tackles, including nine for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He has offers from Ball State, Indiana State, Navy, Western Michigan and others.

Lawrenceburg Tigers running back Teagan Bennett (7) is tackled by Bishop Chatard Trojans Sam Feeney (10) during the IHSAA Class 3A state championships Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Lawrenceburg Tigers running back Teagan Bennett (7) is tackled by Bishop Chatard Trojans Sam Feeney (10) during the IHSAA Class 3A state championships Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Jonny Hall, Lutheran: The 5-11, 175-pound outside linebacker has been a standout on defense the last two seasons for the Saints' Class A state championship teams. Hall had 111 tackles last season, including six for loss, four interceptions and four forced fumbles. He has 214 career tackles, including 12 for loss, and three sacks.

Indianapolis Lutheran High School junior Jonny Hall (16) hits North Decatur High School senior Josh Evans (22) to send him out-of-bounds during the first half of an IHSAA Class A Semi-State Championship football game, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at North Decatur High School.
Indianapolis Lutheran High School junior Jonny Hall (16) hits North Decatur High School senior Josh Evans (22) to send him out-of-bounds during the first half of an IHSAA Class A Semi-State Championship football game, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at North Decatur High School.

Jake Hinton, Greenfield-Central: The 6-4, 200-pound outside linebacker was a leader for the Greenfield-Central defense as a junior, finishing with 115 tackles, including eight for loss, and two sacks on a team that went 7-4 for the second consecutive season. Hinton has an offer from the University of Indianapolis.

Carter McKinstry, Lawrence North: The 5-11, 220-pound McKinstry was named Junior All-State by the Indiana Football Coaches Association last season after leading Lawrence North with 101 tackles, including 10 for loss, and five sacks. He has an offer from Tiffin.

Leo Morrow, Fishers: The 5-9, 160-pound defensive back is coming off a strong season in track that saw him compete on the Tigers’ state-qualifying 400-meter relay team that set a school record. Morrow had 59 tackles, including five for loss, and three interceptions as a junior.

Fishers High School's Leo Morrow (24) and Leonard Teyon (6) talk during practice prior to the game Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at Noblesville High School.
Fishers High School's Leo Morrow (24) and Leonard Teyon (6) talk during practice prior to the game Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at Noblesville High School.

DJ Morton, Lawrence Central: The 6-3, 175-pound senior safety is going into his third year as a starter. As a junior, Morton made 61 tackles and intercepted two passes (98 tackles and four interceptions for his career). He has offers from Air Force, Akron, Army, Austin Peay, Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Kent State, Marshall, Northern Illinois, Miami of Ohio, Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan.

Lawrence Central High School junior DJ Morton (13), right, celebrates after catching a Ben Davis High School interception during the first half of an IHSAA varsity football game, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Ben Davis High School.
Lawrence Central High School junior DJ Morton (13), right, celebrates after catching a Ben Davis High School interception during the first half of an IHSAA varsity football game, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Ben Davis High School.

Jordan Palmer, Whiteland: The 5-10, 185-pound linebacker broke through as a freshman for the Warriors, finishing with 85 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery for a team that reached the Class 5A state finals. Palmer had 13 tackles in the 35-31 loss to Valparaiso in the state championship.

Whiteland High School's Jordan Palmer (44) chases Martinsville High School senior Tyler Adkins (17) out-of-bounds during the first half of an IHSAA varsity football game, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Martinsville High School.
Whiteland High School's Jordan Palmer (44) chases Martinsville High School senior Tyler Adkins (17) out-of-bounds during the first half of an IHSAA varsity football game, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Martinsville High School.

Luke Penola, Zionsville: Penola, a senior linebacker, took third in state wrestling in the 182-pound weight class as a junior. He was one of the leaders of the Zionsville defense last season, making 57 tackles from his linebacker position, including seven for loss. Penola also had two sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception.

Jackson Weingart, Cathedral: The 6-1, 210-pound senior linebacker, an Army recruit, had 54 tackles as a junior with 11½ for loss and 6½ sacks in his first year as a starter. Weingart also had one interception, one fumble recovery, one caused fumble and one blocked kick.

Brownsburg High School senior Jayden Whitaker (9) is hit by Indianapolis Cathedral High School junior Jackson Weingart (39) during the first half of an IHSAA varsity football game, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at Brownsburg High School.
Brownsburg High School senior Jayden Whitaker (9) is hit by Indianapolis Cathedral High School junior Jackson Weingart (39) during the first half of an IHSAA varsity football game, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at Brownsburg High School.

Lennox Cruz Williams, Westfield: The junior linebacker is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season that saw him finish with 90 tackles, including 7½ for loss and 4½ sacks. Cruz Williams, the younger brother of former Westfield standout and Louisville linebacker Popeye Williams, is a rated as a three-star prospect by 247sports. He has an offer from Eastern Michigan with more certainly to come.

Westfield Shamrocks Lennox Cruz Williams (2) celebrates with Westfield Shamrocks William Goodvine III (92) on Friday, August 19, 2022 at New Palestine High School in New Palestine. New Palestine Dragons defeated the Westfield Shamrocks, 48-28.
Westfield Shamrocks Lennox Cruz Williams (2) celebrates with Westfield Shamrocks William Goodvine III (92) on Friday, August 19, 2022 at New Palestine High School in New Palestine. New Palestine Dragons defeated the Westfield Shamrocks, 48-28.

Will Harris, Park Tudor: The 5-11, 220-pound senior made a whopping 152 tackles last season, including six for loss, and has 241 career tackles. Harris also has two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two fumbles forced. He has 315 rushing yards and two rushing TDs.

Call Star reporter at (317) 444-6649 or email kyle.neddenriep@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: High school football: 15 defensive playmakers from Central Indiana